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Treasure Valley Transit reports ridership rebound, driver shortages and funding uncertainty for Mountain Community Transit
Summary
Treasure Valley Transit told commissioners ridership is up more than 33% since FY22, staff shortages have eased, but rising costs and uncertain federal funding threaten future service levels.
Terri Lindenberg of Treasure Valley Transit briefed Valley County commissioners on May 5 about Mountain Community Transit’s service, ridership gains and financial challenges.
Lindenberg said the system recorded 17,326 rides in the most recent reporting year, up from 11,957 in FY22 and exceeding pre-COVID 2019 levels. She said the system operates 17 runs per day with concurrent start times in Cascade and McCall and a midday run for partial-day trips.
Lindenberg described recent financial pressures: a $32,000 shortfall in FY24 driven by higher labor and insurance costs, insurance rate increases this year of about 19 percent, and regional federal grant uncertainties that have paused or reduced CARES Act and Federal Transit Administration awards. She said parts supply disruptions have kept one bus sidelined for six weeks while awaiting a component from Mexico.
The system also struggled with driver shortages last year and relied on staff temporarily assigned from other Treasure Valley Transit systems; Lindenberg said Mountain Community Transit is now fully staffed. She said the agency has kept fares free using CARES Act funds and that collecting fares often does not generate net revenue for small rural systems because of accounting and security requirements.
Lindenberg described partnership arrangements with Brundage and Tamarack (private operators) and said some seasonal services are 100 percent locally funded by partners. She said grant cycles provide operational clarity through FY26 but that FY27 and FY28 remain uncertain. The Idaho Transportation Department plans to feature McCall and regional partnerships in an upcoming video.
Commissioners asked whether fares might be reinstated; Lindenberg said it remains a possibility as federal and local funding conditions evolve, and she noted many riders pay cash which complicates noncash fare options.
No vote was required; the briefing was informational and commissioners thanked Lindenberg for the update.
